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We had such a long summer this year. It was hot until mid-October, and fortunately, no major climate catastrophes occurred where I live. It has been a while since I last wrote here. The reasons are the usual ones: COVID, global conflicts, political uncertainties, and personal insecurities. I’ve been browsing other social platforms, but with disappointment. Some of them have become places to avoid nowadays. These are challenging times indeed. But let me get back to my main topic for today. Today, it’s raining lightly. The weather is cold, with a late fall chill. The leaves are finally changin ..read more

I watched the movie Julie &Julia the 2009 American biographical comedy, starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams. I actually watched it more than once because Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar for that role in Julie & Julia – chapeau! I was inspired by Julie Powell to cook, well not all 524 recipes in a year, but something like 150 recipes listed from all the books I have. The thing was, either I use my cooking books or I donate them. So I went through most of them and listed all the recipes that I want to do, or do better. I made it for a family dinner, and I was quite pleased that, althoug ..read more

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, the supermarket shelves are bursting with vibrant new produce. Springtime is a magical season that inspires us to get creative with our lunches. With so many colorful fruits and vegetables to choose from, it’s easy to create healthy and delicious meals. For example, you can use fresh tomatoes to make a quick and easy dish that’s perfect for a vegetarian appetizer or side dish. Tomatoes gratin is a classic dish that combines juicy tomatoes with crispy breadcrumbs and melted cheese. With just a few simple ingredients and less than an hour of ..read more

After a long hiatus, I have returned to this place to write my stories on this rainy day. I had to dust off a few cobwebs first. Life can take you away from your passions, but it’s important to come back to them. It feels good to get back to healthy habits, even after a period of absence. About the rain In Italy, we are currently experiencing a severe drought, making every drop of rain a precious gift. Although it may be unseasonably cold, a rainy day like today is most welcomed after months of dry weather. While we did have some rain at the beginning of April, it was not enough to alleviate t ..read more

With so much talking about Prince Harry’s book these days, it just came to mind that life for the “Spare(s)” has been historically tricky, if not dramatic. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, may consider himself lucky to have dropped his Royal duties for a life of tranquillity. Not everybody was so lucky. MAXIMILIAN I (1832-1867) EMPEROR OF MEXICO Maximilian I (full name: Ferdinand Maximilian Josef Maria von Habsburg-Lothringen) was the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria; as the second son, he was a “spare” himself. From an early age, Maximilian tried to surpass his older brot ..read more

Luigia Lollobrigida 1927-2023 Signora Luigia Lollobrigida, known as Gina Lollobrigida, became famous through her films and is still considered one of the essential divas; hers is the star number 2628 among those on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the 1990s she fully resumed her activity as a sculptor, which she had neglected for the cinema. She modeled more than sixty sculptures, some of which in marble and some of large dimensions. Gina has always gone where her heart took her; as a girl, she followed her passion by enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and to pay for her studies, s ..read more

I always make quiches, or savory pies, because they are easy to do, they last a few days, are good hot, warm and the day after, and they are versatile. Beautiful, good, very simple to do! The savory pie with zucchini is just perfect to pull out on all those occasions when we want to bring something delicious, rustic and tasty to the table. It is also an excellent way to use vegetables in a reasonable quantity. Paired with some protein, it is a well-balanced meal, but good on its own too. This one with zucchini is a little elaborate merely because the slices are laid in a circular motion. The ..read more

I actually could do with an old year as long as it is good! We are growing warily to the arrival of a new year lately. Too many treacherous events have taken place since 2020. The weather is bleak, which does not help us to look positively to the days ahead. The war in Ukraine Iwas the worst episode of 2022 and did destroy the EU’s long-lasting peace and all the dreams. I think that made us lose our certainties, all those beliefs we hold on Jan first every year, that the new year will be better. Now we are careful, we do not know what’s next. Will it be better or—God forbid—worst! Journalists ..read more

What happened in Italy? We had the best Prime Minister ever, and then the Government fell. How was that possible? Mario Draghi, (former ECB chief who saved the Eurozone with that historic “whatever it takes and believe me, it will be enough”), resigned after the leaders of the right wing parties withdraw their support to the coalition. It all started because the tantrums by the leader of the M5S party. A former prime minister, that had fooled us all during his tenure throughout the difficult months of the pandemic. Had him kept quiet, he would have been remembered as a good politician! Instead ..read more